F1 Academy graduate Hamda Al Qubaisi will return to Formula 4 in 2025 with AKCEL GP x PHM Racing to compete in the rebranded F4 Middle East Championship, building on her multiple victories in mixed-gender F4 series.
Emirati star Hamda Al Qubaisi is set to return to F4 machinery as she joins AKCEL GP x PHM Racing for the 2025 F4 Middle East Championship.
Al Qubaisi contested two seasons in the all-female F1 Academy championship, collecting four victories and ten podiums; at the same time, the Abu Dhabi-based racer continues to be the female driver with the most victories in mixed-gender Formula 4 competitions, having secured six wins between 2020 and 2021 in F4 UAE - now rebranded F4 Middle East from 2025 onwards - and one victory in F4 Saudi Arabia in 2024.
Hamda represented Red Bull Racing in a MP Motorsport entry in 2024, and while the two-year limit will see Al Qubaisi graduating from the F1-promoted series, she is set to return to the Middle East regional F4 championship in 2025, with AKCEL GP x PHM Racing.
“I’m excited to join AKCEL GP x PHM Racing for this new season", said Hamda. "It’s a great opportunity to represent my country and compete at the highest level. I’m confident we’ll create something special together!”
After a highly promising karting career, Al Qubaisi followed in her father and sister's footsteps and made her race car debut at the end of 2019, entering two rounds of the uber-competitive Italian F4. She returned for her first full-time campaign in 2020 - immediately showing her potential with two point scoring results.
In 2021, Hamda made a further step up and battled consistently in the top ten in the Italian series, also becoming the first ever woman to stand on the podium in Italian F4. At the same time, she also entered the F4 UAE Championship - where she was among the front runners, claiming 19 podiums and 4 wins over two seasons, which gained her fourth in the standings in both 2020 and 2021.
The Emirati stepped up to Formula Regional machinery in 2022 and contested both the Formula Regional Asian Championship - now FR Middle East - as well as the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine. After her learning-oriented season, Al Qubaisi seized the opportunity to join the newly-launched F1 Academy - and joined the ranks of Dutch team MP Motorsport, alongside her sister Amna - also a F4 race winner.
Following a training season in F4 UAE in 2023, Hamda would have to face an arm injury that severely impacted her pre-season preparation and testing. Nevertheless, while still recovering from a serious fracture, she claimed a podium on debut in Austria, followed by a race win and another podium in Valencia. Her rookie F1 Academy campaign continued with three more victories and Hamda quickly became Marta Garcia's closest rival for the title. She ultimately finished third.
Opting to continue in the all-female series, Al Qubaisi was signed to Red Bull Racing, again in a MP Motorsport entry. Her sophomore season was marred by some technical issues in the first half of the year - nevertheless the 22 year old Emirati returned to the podium in Barcelona and was protagonist of a very solid second half of the season with two more top-three finishes at her home round in Abu Dhabi to finish fifth in the standings.
Al Qubaisi will now contest the five-event F4 Middle East championship, starting from Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, on 17-19 January, with a double header scheduled for 21-23 January. Dubai Autodrome will host the third round on 7-9 February, before yet another Abu Dhabi round on 14-16 February. The season finale is planned at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Saudi Arabia, on 25-27 February.
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